"I first tried to experiment with my head shape and components. I sketched a whole page of alternatives and only afterwards started to sketch the overall portrait. I used a photo in order to be able to really look and understand how my eyes, mouth, hair, etc. look. Furthermore, I did not try to have a copy or photorealistic representation of myself but rather a good match of how I see myself (or at least: a portrait that I could live with…).

Here is the sketchbook photo of the different components of my portrait:

Following, I tried to combine all the elements and experiment. Be careful with photos in which you have an open smile. Those are really difficult to sketch. A closed mouth is much easier to handle. Here is the photo of the different experiments I did, first with pencil and then with fineliner pen. You can still see the pencil marks that helped me define the shape of the head and the separation in halves as orientation points for the eyes. On the last sketch I also added some shadows with a grey marker, to get rid of the “flat” effect of my sketch:

Through these experiments – even though the portraits are not perfect – I learned something about the essential features of my head/face: it is not too round, my eyes are rather thin, definitely not too round or big, my chin is quite edged, my lips are rather thin and not too curvy, my forehead is quite dominant and my hair is short and quite high up. These are some essential features I can from now on always use in order to create a very fast sketched mini-me. Even if the sketch will not totally represent me, it will still represent the “my type of portrait”. I was happy with those insights and started working on the further parts of my business card."

Chapter 3 - Step 1: Self Portrait

image/svg+xml

0

2 comments

I tried to shape my portrait in a way to make it distinguishable, by focusing on certain shapes of parts of my face.
As written on the sheet, I have a skewed, slighty receding hairline but still thick dark hair. One ear is missing a part. My nose is bent to the right and raher curved. I have a slim head and my right eyelid hangs lower than the left eyelid. This was, I think, a good try and it took me about 10 minutes to sketch and draw. I hope ou guys like it :)